Freed Detainee Tells About Torture by U.S.
U.S. Court of Appeals Grants Fiji Family Political Asylum
By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SAN FRANCISCO, United States – A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that a California man and his family who fled Fiji in 1998 in response to racially motivated beatings and death threats are eligible for political asylum. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco reversed rulings by immigration courts against Rajeshwar Singh, his wife, Mohini Lata Singh, and their two children.
Mr. Singh’s father was killed by native Fijians in 1987 and the Singhs were under pressure to vacate their leased land so natives could move in according to their lawyer, Ashwani Bakhri. Mr. Singh, a cabdriver in Fiji, was locked in the trunk of his taxi in 1996 by passengers who rolled the vehicle into a ditch, seriously injuring him. His wife and young children were also attacked. The Singhs, of Indian descent, said the violence against them was by Fiji’s native majority, who control the government.
The federal immigration board ruled that the family had not been persecuted which made them ineligible for asylum because they could not show that the police were unable or unwilling to protect them. In a 3-0 ruling the appeals court said Singh had complained to police about the violence and had received no response.
The court ruled, “We have previously recognized the indifference of authorities to violence against Indo-Fijians during the period at issue in this case.” The judges said the Singhs had been persecuted because of their ethnicity and probably would be persecuted again if they were deported back to Fiji.
For more information, please see:
San Francisco Chronicle – Fiji fear leads to asylum win for local family – 23 February 2009
Fiji Times – Fiji family qualifies for political asylum, US court rules – 24 February 2009
Junta Released More Than 6000 Prisoners
By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
YANGON, Myanmar – Junta released more than 6,000 prisoners after the United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana concluded his visit last week. Several monks and pro-democracy members were among released prisoners, a party spokesperson and a rights group said. State radio and television reports prisoners were being freed because of their good conduct in jails. These prisoners also would be able to participate in a general election planned for next year.
However, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based rights group believes “it is just for show”. “This group does not include any policy makers or other key players,” said Tate Naing, the group’s secretary. National League for Democracy spokesperson Nyan Win said he was expecting to hear about additional NLD members freed.
The United Nations human rights rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana noting “The human rights situation in Myanmar is still challenging.” During his visit, Mr. Quintana were not allow to meet with either Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition who is under house arrest, or Burma’s junta chief, Senior General Than Shwe. Mr. Quintana’s mission to Myanmar is to push for the freedom of political prisoners – including Aung San Suu Kyi. The Junta said that they would consider his recommendation, amending some national laws to be more in keeping with international standards.
At the same time, pressure is rising for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit Myanmar again. Aung San Suu Kyi and others have written a letter welcoming a possible visit by the secretary-general to “discuss a broad range of issues,” U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari told reporters after briefing the Security Council on his recent trip to Myanmar. U.N. Security Council members said they would support a visit by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
For more information, please see:
AP – 19 political prisoners released from Myanmar jails – 22 February 2009
AP – Myanmar junta announces 6300 convicts to be freed – 20 February 2009
BBC – Burma rights still ‘challenging’ – 20 February 2009
Reuters – Political prisoners among 6,000 freed in Myanmar – 22 February 2009
Vestiges of Slavery Alive in the Caribbean
POINTE-A-PITRE, Guadeloupe – The Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe have seen turmoil in the past month due to protests over extremely low wages and high living costs. The weeks long protests are in response to the pervasive level of inequality in the economy of the islands with just one percent of the population, known as the bekes (the primarily white, elite slaveholder descendants), owning most of the industries and sources of economic clout in the islands. Many demonstrators, mostly afro-Caribbeans, believe that their current dire circumstances are a manifestation of the legacy of racism and slavery on the French colony islands.
France dispatched 450 riot police to tame the protests that have been characterized by gunfire, looting, arson, and the death of longtime activist and union member Jacques Bino, who was shot and killed in a housing project in Point-a-Pitre. Three police officers were also reported injured, one of whom was shot in the eye. Protest leader Domota said the violence was prompted by the police, who have been accused of harassing protestors with racist insults.
The social and economic disparities between the two groups runs deep according to recent statistics, with an unemployment rate of 23 percent and a poverty rate of 12 percent, compared to 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively, on the overseas mainland of France.
Serge Romana, president of an association commemorating the abolition of slavery in the French territories, has said that French President Nicholas Sarkozy “must absolutely abolish all traces of neocolonialism and vestiges of slavery in the overseas regions.” This call for respect and equality has barriers in systemic processes, however, as beke Jean-Luc de Laguarigue has said: “Tensions have festered over generations because France and its islands have not explored the painful past…The protests are not a call for war, but for dignity.” He noted there was no known slavery museum in France and the subject is pretty much taboo in the educational system.
On Sarkozy’s part, he promised a $250 monthly raise for low-income workers and a lowering of prices on 100 products by 20 percent. Protest leaders and government officials are currently negotiating for lower housing, gasoline, water and electricity costs.
For more information, please see:
Houston Chronicle – Unrest in France’s Carribbean Islands Claims 1 – 18 February 2009
Associated Press – Unrest in Carribbean Has Roots in Slavery Past – 22 February 2009
Star Tribune – On Martinique and Guadeloupe, Anger Over Soaring Living Costs Has Roots in Past Slavery – 22 February 2009
Ousted Chaudhry Says Reform Must Precede Elections
By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania